The Nevada
Institutional Affiliate raverse National Society of Professional Surveyors T Member Western Federation of Professional Surveyors
Vol. 42, No. 1 Journal of the Professional Land Surveyors of Nevada 2015
OUTREACH Series... Starting On Page 5 Update: Great Basin College Surveying/Geomatics Program... See Page 10
Who’s Who in NALS 2015 State Association Officers Lahontan Chapter Trent Keenan, PLS President Halana Salazar, PLS President Diamondback Land Surveying, LLC NDOT 5506 Ft. Apache Road, Suite 110 1263 S. Stewart St. Las Vegas, NV 89148 Carson City, NV 89712 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Carl C.de Baca, PLS President-elect Greg Phillips, PLS President-elect Alidade, Inc. Lumos & Associates P.O. Box 1586 800 E. College Parkway Elko, NV 89803 Carson City, NV 89706 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Jerry Juarez, PLS Secretary Michael Miller. PLS Secretary Manhard Consulting, Ltd. CFA, Inc. 9850 Double R Blvd., Suite 101 1150 Corporate Blvd. Reno, NV 89521 Reno, NV 89502 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Alan Dill, PLS Treasurer Mattew Philumalee Stanley Consultants Lumos & Associates 5820 S. Eastern Ave. 800 E. College Parkway Las Vegas, NV 89119 Carson City, NV 89706 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] The Nevada Traverse Southern Nevada Chapter Carl C.de Baca, PLS Co-Editor, The Nevada Traverse Alidade, Inc. Steve Deveny President P.O. Box 1586 NV Energy Elko, NV 89803 9032 Black Elk Avenue Email: [email protected] Las Vegas, NV 89143 Email: [email protected] Trent Keenan, PLS Co-Editor, The Nevada Traverse Diamondback Land Surveying, LLC Doug Wood President-elect and Chapter Representative 5506 Ft. Apache Road, Suite 110 Diamondback Land Surveying, LLC Las Vegas, NV 89148 5506 Ft. Apache Road, Suite 110 Email: [email protected] Las Vegas, NV 89148 Email: [email protected] Central Office Gene Sawyer Secretary Executive Secretary position is currently vacant Clark County Surveyor’s Office P.O. Box 20522 5604 Paseo Recallo Court Reno, NV 89515 Las Vegas, NV 89108 Contact individual board members (above) Email: [email protected]
NSPS Director for Nevada Russ Wonders Treasurer GC Wallace, Inc. Paul Burn, PLS 1555 S Rainbow Blvd. G.C. Wallace, Inc. Las Vegas, NV 89146 1555 South Rainbow Blvd. 702-804-2061 Las Vegas, NV 89146 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Great Basin Chapter WFPS Delegates from Nevada Carl C.de Baca, PLS President Nancy Almanzan, PLS Alidade, Inc. City of Las Vegas P.O. Box 1586 333 N. Rancho Dr. Elko, NV 89803 Las Vegas, NV 89106 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Norman M. Rockwell, PE, PLS President-elect and Chapter Matt Gingerich, PLS Representative NVEnergy Bureau of Land Management P.O. Box 10100 S4B2O 3900 E. Idaho Street Reno, NV 89520 Elko, NV 89801 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Jolene Hoffman, Secretary (acting) 400 Jiggs Highway, Unit 8 SC, NV 89815 Email: [email protected]
Mark Boge, PLS Treasurer 14030 Welsh Mountain Court Reno, NV 89521 Email: [email protected] The Nevada Traverse
This publication is issued quarterly by the Nevada Association of Land Surveyors (NALS) and is published as a service to the Land Surveying pro- fession of the state of Nevada. The Nevada Traverse is an open forum for all surveyors, with an editorial policy predicated on the objective of NALS Constitution and Bylaws, Article II, which reads: The “The purpose of this association shall be to promote the common good and welfare of its members in their activities in the profession of Land Surveying; to promote and maintain the highest possible standards of professional ethics and Editor’s practice; to promote professional uniformity; to promote public awareness and trust in Professional Land Surveyors and their work. This organization, in its activities and in its membership, shall be non-political, non- Corner partisan, non-sectarian, and non-discriminatory.” The publication is mailed to NALS members and similar organizations on a com- plimentary basis. The Nevada Traverse is not copyright protected. Articles, except where specifically copyright noted, may be reprinted with proper credit. Written by Carl C.de Baca, PLS permission to reprint copyrighted material must be secured either from the author directly, or through the editor. Articles appearing in the publication do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of How do you follow the likes of Terry McHenry, our beloved NALS, its officers, Board of Directors, or the editor, but are published as a ser- Nevada Traverse editor? It’s like taking the stage after vice to its members, the general public, and for the betterment of the surveying profession. No responsibility is assumed for errors, misquotes, or deletions as Springsteen or Waylon or the Beatles…or serving a meal to its contents. after Emeril LaGasse. I feel like Chef Boyardee. Advertising Policy (Effective January 1, 2015) For the past twenty-four years Terry McHenry has been The Nevada Traverse is published quarterly by the Nevada Association of Land the soul of this organization, its institutional memory, its Surveyors and accepts advertising. Contact the editor for submittal specifications for advertisements. The rates per issue are as follows: sense of direction, and the ballast that kept us on an even keel through some pretty rough seas. Terry’s stewardship of MEMBER NON-MEMBER this magazine has been insightful, seamless and infinitely PRICE PRICE consistent, with both a light touch and clarity of vision 1 Issue Yearly (4x) 1 Issue Yearly (4x) that made each issue of the Traverse feel like it was grown Prof’l Listing $70.00 $165.00 $265.00 $525.00 rather than manufactured. The arrival of the Traverse in our 1/8 Page $100.00 $305.00 $295.00 $615.00 mailbox has always been a high point. When you held it in 1/4 Page $175.00 $525.00 $345.00 $965.00 your hand, it felt like Nevada. Adv. Sizes/ Adv. 1/2 Pg (horiz or vert) $240.00 $730.00 $430.00 $1180.00 CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE u 3/4 Page $315.00 $950.00 $505.00 $1310.00 B&W Types/Placement Full Page $350.00 $1045.00 $540.00 $1530.00 Table Of Contents Center Spread (full pages ONLY) The Editor’s Corner...... 2 Inside L OR R face $610.00 $1745.00 $890.00 $2225.00 About the Cover...... 3 Inside L AND R face $1020.00 $2940.00 $1530.00 $3875.00 The President’s Report...... 4 Outside L OR R face $560.00 $1580.00 $840.00 $2100.00 OUTREACH – Nevada Trig-Star...... 5 Next 2 Spreads Out OUTREACH – Teaching With Spatial Technology. . .6 from Center OUTREACH – Certified Survey Technician Program . 7 1/4 Page $290.00 $770.00 $485.00 $1340.00 OUTREACH – Southern Chapter High Schools. . . 8 Adv. Sizes/Types/PlacementAdv.
1/2 Pg (horiz or vert) $400.00 $1080.00 $610.00 $1615.00 OUTREACH – SkillsUSA...... 9 Full Page $560.00 $1580.00 $840.00 $2100.00 Off And Running...GBC Survey/Geomatics Program.10
COLOR Cover (full pages ONLY Who Determines Navigability? ...... 11 except as noted) Sustaining Members...... 14 Inside front cover $640.00 $1855.00 $990.00 $2790.00 Professional Listings...... 18 Inside back cover $600.00 $1810.00 $930.00 $2375.00 Aloha! Hawaii Conference Overview...... 19 Outside back cover The Future of Surveying Education in Nevada: (3/4 page ONLY) $580.00 $1740.00 $1000.00 $2442.00 A Proposal...... 20 Elithorp: Where Is He Now? ...... 22 Deadlines for submittals are the middle of January, April, July, and October. What Has NALS Done For Me Lately?...... 23 Business cards of the members will be published in each issue unless oth- erwise requested. Meeting Minutes, NALS BOD, 06/18/2014 . . . 24-25 Running an ad does not imply endorsement of that advertiser by NALS, and Great Basin Chapter Report...... 26 the editor reserves the right to not accept ads which may be in poor taste or objectionable to the policies of NALS. Southern Nevada Chapter Report...... 27 Send ad requests to: Lahontan Chapter Report...... 28 Carl C.de Baca, PLS. *Legal Alert* Supreme Court Case No. 13-534. . . 29 Editor, The Nevada Traverse Albume Review: Shellac ...... 28 P.O. Box 1586, Elko, NV 89803 Tel/Fax: 775.777.8587 Advertiser Index...... 32 email: [email protected]
2 The Nevada Traverse Vol. 42, No. 1, 2015 The Editor’s Corner continued from previous page And that is the essence we are going to try to continue to capture, a feeling of Nevada: blue skies, red sunsets, broad horizons. About the Cover That can only happen if we, that is to say ‘you’, make this your by Paul S. Pace, PLS own journal by contributing to it and keeping that ‘home-grown’ flavor. The Traverse is best when it reflects our voices and H.S. Crocker Surveyor’s Transit experiences as Nevada Surveyors; when it looks at our history, The H. S. Crocker Company was founded in 1856 in Sacramento, our humor; our take on the future and our love of the profession. California as a printing and stationery company. They opened So here’s hoping that you will step up and offer your voices to for business in a canvas tent, but trade from the gold fields the Traverse. Meanwhile, join me in giving a fond farewell and was brisk and they soon moved to a permanent building. By a heartfelt thanks to Terry as he goes on to other adventures. 1871 they had opened a printing and lithography plant in San Francisco. The company remains in business today. “I spent four years in college. I didn’t learn a thing. At the turn of the 20th Century they also offered surveying and It was really my own fault. I had a double major in drafting supplies in large quantity, including Berger transits psychology and reverse psychology.” and levels. They also offered their own line of surveying —B. J. Novak, a writer for The Office instruments, likely made for them by Berger or Keuffel & Esser. Their 1904 catalog illustrates the “4 ½” Surveyor’s Transit, This issue of the Nevada Traverse, which is 100% homegrown, with Bubble to Telescope, and Vertical Circle” similar to the deals with the topics of education and outreach. Look around instrument on the cover. you. The technology we rely upon is rapidly advancing, as it has The transit in the photo was purchased from H. S. Crocker by for the past two decades. There appears to be no end in sight as the Central Pacific Railroad Company and used around Truckee, we move toward ever more imaginative ways to utilize robotic California. It was later sold to the Hobart Estate Company, tools to collect and process data. In fact, we spend more time in a lumber company located at Hobart Mills, California, with data management than we do in data capture. Data, data data, extensive narrow and broad gauge railroad infrastructure. The it’s all about the data. Old notions of ‘surveying’ are quickly compass face is engraved “H. S. Crocker Co. San Francisco ~ being put to bed in favor of various kinds of LiDar, terrestrial Sacramento”. photogrammetry, drones, etc. (We’ll be looking at these topics in future issues…) Formal education is now indisputably The instrument is owned by Paul Pace, PLS who also took the necessary to develop the next generation of surveyors and photo. U continuing education is just as indisputably necessary to keep this generation abreast of the myriad advancements in our daily tools. This is not a good time to stick your head in the sand.
NALS has many active forms of outreach to a potential next generation of surveyors. We are involved in middle schools and a basic introduction to the profession via the TWiST program whereby we are helping educate educators, in high school through the TrigStar program and through career fairs, (and in the future, through Skills USA – hopefully), and in advanced education through the CST program and our affiliation with Great Basin College’s Geomatics program and our support of potential new Surveying/Geomatics programs like those considered by WNC and UNLV. So we do have at least one eye pointed toward the future. But it is a troubling future we spy, with declining numbers entering the profession as increasing numbers of us edge closer to retiring from it. Surveying is approaching a demographic death spiral and all these new and exciting positions in the industry are increasingly likely to be filled by people not from a traditional surveying background. While our numbers decline, other professions are starting to take up our tools and do our jobs, leaving us in danger of being left behind. It seems prudent to take a close look at the state of education and outreach in Nevada and to start discussing how we can improve the process.
Thanks to all the NALS officers, committee chairs and members who contributed to this issue. The future is now, let’s get started!
U
The Nevada Traverse Vol. 42, No. 1, 2015 3 I personally feel this year it will be very important to get off on the The right foot, more than any of our years during the economic down turn. As you may have heard over the last couple of months, we have hired a new lobbyist and her name is Neena Laxalt. We are President’s so excited to work with her and see what insights she will have for us and our profession in the upcoming legislative session. Report You may have also heard by now that Carl CdeBaca and I will be the new Co-Editors of the Nevada Traverse. Carl is a past editor by Trent Keenan, PLS of the California Surveyor. I’m sure Carl will want to take on the full reins as we make this transition.
So with all that being said, all of this change is good; change is elcome to the spring of 2015. I first want to thank you required to move forward with progress and keeping things new all for the support over the last 8 + years. I’m truly and fresh. But these changes are huge, these are the kind that W honored to be leading this great association in 2015. will keep you up at night. They will give you more grey hair than For me it’s hard to imagine where I am at today after just a short you should have at 38 years old, but I do feel that we have the 20 years ago I was a kid in high school seeing “these surveyors” right people in the right places on this board and on the right (as I like to tell the story) walking out to the intersection in Las committees to make sure we don’t have any hiccups and to keep Vegas and I thought to myself, “That’s cool” and have made our this association moving forward! this my career path ever since. Mind you, I’m not a 2nd, 3rd generation surveyor. I was just a kid with a “Ah Ha” moment. So the people helping lead us forward and are your 2015 Nevada Now fast forward 20 years and I’ve been licensed for over 10 Association of Land Surveyors State Board are: years now, I’ve created a multimillion dollar company in the last 6 1/2 years with the BEST team you could possibly have, Carl C.de Baca: including my best friend/wife by my side every day, obtained Carl has a great amount of experience in both the profession 4 other state licenses, CFedS license, etc. None of this would and within the other national associations. Carl is the past have been possible without the network of professionals in this Area 9 director for NSPS going back to 2008 and has a great organization, the friendships/mentorships created over the professional network of people to pull ideas from. Carl is also a years by being involved in NALS, the conferences every year, guest speaker at other conferences with topics about the future the PDH requirements for making us learn new things every of construction and machine guidance control. Carl is going to year. Now I know I’m a very rare scenario of a kid, (so I’m told make a great editor and I am really glad he decided to help me everyday) but how do we take what I did and get other kids take on that roll. Carl is also the past president of the Great involved to make this their career path? We have programs in Basin chapter, Carl has serve in this role for the four straight place nationally with Trig-Star, Twist and Skills USA to help years and is now starting his fifth year. bring awareness to the profession, but is this working? From what little data we have about the past Trig-Star winners, they Jerry Juarez: are moving to engineering degrees. I know this is not the first Jerry, like Carl has a lot of national exposure that he brings time this subject has come up, but it needs to be talked about to the table. Being the state and national Trig-Star chair, every year. With the conference topic on Surveying the future, Jerry’s voice is heard. Jerry started his association career in the Staking our claim. We should be having these discussions. Southern Chapter chairs in 2001 moved on to the state board as a Southern Chapter Rep in 2002, left the scene for a while and Now for a somewhat lighter topic. resurfaced in Northern Nevada as the Treasurer in 2005 of the Lahontan Chapter and later became president in 2008. Jerry As I began to do some research for this report I realized that has been very active in this association for many years now and if 2014 was the year for retirement, then Derek Jeter, Terry it’s always good to have his input. McHenry, Bruce Arkell and Glen Armstrong, Sean Corkill, Jon Wooten, they all got the memo. This left me thinking two Alan Dill: things: 1. Maybe I should have started a year earlier 2. We as an Alan is a great addition to this year’s board and I’m honored association have some really big shoes to fill in 2015. to have him serve with me. Alan is the 2012 past president of the SNALS chapter and we are glad we finally convinced him 2015 will be the year of BIG change. With the end of 2014, it to move up the chairs. Alan started in the Southern Chapter as marks an end to Glen’s 12 years of service and we thank him for the Chapter Rep in 2007 and moved his way through the chairs. his great leadership and for leaving this association in a better place than when he started on it some many years ago. Sean Your other voting members are Norman Rockwell from the and Jon both spent the last 6 and 7 years respectively on the Great Basin Chapter, Halana Salazar (Current Lahontan Southern Chapter board. Sean was VERY active with the Trig- Chapter President) and Kevin German (Past President) from Star and High School Outreach/Career Fairs. Jon has spent the the Lahontan Chapter. Steve Deveny (Current Sothern Chapter last 5 years as the Treasurer for the Southern Chapter. Bruce President) and Doug Wood (President-Elect) from the Southern wrapped up his duties after the 2013 legislative session; Bruce Chapter Board. was a great asset to have as our lobbyist over the last 20+ years. And although all of those were good runs, it cannot be trumped I’m looking forward to a great year and looking forward by Terry McHenry: 24 years as the publisher of the Nevada to the changes ahead. Should you have any questions or Traverse. And let’s not forget his 8 years of service as a board concerns, or you would just like your voice to be heard member before his publisher career started. That’s 32 years you can call me at 702.823.3257 or email me at tkeenan@ of dedication to this association/profession and there are not diamondbacklandsurveying.com enough words to express our sincere gratitude for everything U Terry has done over the years.
4 The Nevada Traverse Vol. 42, No. 1, 2015 OUTREACH — Nevada Trig-Star by Jerry Juarez, PLS Nevada and National Trig-Star Coordinator
There were a total of five schools that participated in the Trig- Star program in 2014. Four from the Southern Chapter and two from the Lahontan Chapter. Approximately 300 students were exposed to what Land Surveyors do and the opportunities that the profession provide. Below are the local and state trig-star winners.
1st Place - Bishop Manogue High School – Lahontan Chapter David Yang – 100%
2nd Place – Bishop Manogue High School – Lahontan Chapter Nevada Trig-Star winner David Yang and the best trig teacher in Nevada, Chris McBride – 94% Ann Wieland!!! She was awarded a Meritorious Service Award for being the first teacher involved with Trig-Star 10 years ago! She loves using Trig-Star 3rd Place – E.W. Clark High School – to further her trigonometry curriculum and to be able to tell students “see… Southern Chapter land surveyors use trig everyday”. Michael Mooney – 94%
Vivian On – 94%
David Yang went on to sit for the national exam and just last week, I was at NSPS Headquarters in Fredrick, MD to grade the national exams. After a very fast local finish with a 100%, it wasn’t surprising to see him finish at around 26 minutes on the national exam. I traveled back east with high hopes but David made a slight error on the first part of the last question and it perpetuated throughout the problem. Hmmm…none of us have ever done that! We’ll get ‘em next year!
Accompanying this article are some photos from this year’s presentations and awards ceremony from Bishop Manogue. (Southern Chapter Trig-Star photos were not available.)
As we go forward in 2015, The Trig-Star committee plans to continue to bring awareness of the profession of Surveying to as many students and teachers as possible by recruiting more schools and volunteers. One important factor in our efforts is It was an honor to present the Trig-Star winners at the Bishop Manogue the NSPS Trig-Star Scholarship which is $5,000. That should Academic Banquet which was a full house! help bring awareness. U
U
Jason Caster giving a great presentation on the Land Surveying profession! He did an outstanding job in front of about 80 students.
The Nevada Traverse Vol. 42, No. 1, 2015 5 As a middle school science teacher, I am always looking for new ways to engage students in STEM (Science, Technology, OUTREACH — Engineering, Math) Education and emphasize 21st century learning. This summer, I had the opportunity to attend the Teaching With TwiST (Teaching with Spatial Technology) workshop in Vancouver, Washington. During the week, I worked with twenty other educators and three professors, learning the Spatial Technology fundamentals of surveying, GPS and GIS. After a week of intense classroom training and field work around the local college, I walked away with a solid foundation in spatial by Nancy Almanzan, PLS technology and ideas on how I can implement it in the WFPS Representative classroom and around campus.
With the information and resources received at the workshop, I developed a Geocaching Activity. The activity will be used in both 7th and 8th grade science classes and allows students to explore and locate geocaches around campus using a GPS unit. Students will be provided with a brief introduction on how to use a GPS receiver and how to enter the coordinates of the geocaches they are assigned to find. Each team of students will work collaboratively to locate geocaches and have a chance Over the summer, 21 teachers from the 13 Western Federation to discuss both the successes and challenges they faced during of Professional Surveyors (WFPS) states participated in the the exercise. Teaching with Spatial Technology (TwiST) program at Clark I walked away from this workshop with many ideas and College in Vancouver, Washington. NALS sponsored two resources on spatial technology. I am looking forward to teachers from Nevada: Shannon Johnson, a General Science expanding on these ideas and working with local surveying teacher at Mendive Middle School in Sparks and Judith Cryer- professionals to get students excited about this field and the Garcia, who teaches Environmental Science, Chemistry and opportunities it has to offer. Physical Science at North Valleys High School in Reno. The TwiST program is designed to teach middle & high school Thank you to the TwiST team for putting together an innovative training experience, and to NALS and NCEES for sponsoring educators how to use Geographic Information Systems (GIS). my participation in the workshop. It was definitely worthwhile and I will encourage my colleagues to apply for the program in the future.
ShannonJohnson Mendive Middle School
My name is Judith Garcia and this year I had the opportunity to attend the TwiST workshop this summer in Vancouver, Washington. For many years I have taught both math and d Global Positioning Systems (GPS) in the classroom to create science at North Valleys H.S. in Reno, Nevada. Currently, I meaningful and challenging lesson plans for their students. am teaching environmental science and chemistry. At the time These two technologies are the backbone tools for capturing and this opportunity presented itself, I was looking for ways to managing spatial data and during a week-long training, teachers increase project based learning in my classes, especially those become proficient in many aspects of this exciting and imaginative that might integrate more math and engineering concepts into technology. There are literally thousands of applications that the lessons in a real world manner. I was not disappointed! students can accomplish around their school and community, ranging from resource management to environmental At the week-long workshop, we learned about both GIS and GPS software through a series of both classroom and field assessment to cartography. The applications are endless. exercises. The exercises tied field experience (mapping the campus) to a powerful computer mapping program (ArcGIS) The 5-day course is a mixture of classroom study and field used in surveying and other fields. We then discussed ways exercises. During the workshop, teachers work on a project that to use this technology in developing lesson plans to utilize in they create and design within the parameters of the spatial classroom. technology that they learn during the training. Many examples With experience in teaching both math and science, I was very are provided to the teachers for reference if needed. All of this is excited in the many different ways to use this in the classroom, accomplished by learning to use GIS software, a GPS receiver, a developing “real world” lessons that are modern, relevant and hand compass and other related materials. based on current technology. I am planning ways to integrate The course instructors, Mason Marker, John Ritter and Tim this technology into my environmental class, focusing on Kent are all instructors in the Surveying & Geomatics programs mapping the best places locally for building alternative energy at Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) in Klamath Falls, projects, such as solar or wind power. I would recommend Oregon and/or Clark College in Vancouver, Washington. this workshop to any high school teacher looking for ideas to engage students in challenging real world learning activities. This educational experience provided Shannon & Judith a great opportunity to share this technology with their students. Below Judith Garcia are “TwiSTamonial’s” from our two teachers: North Valleys High School CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE u
6 The Nevada Traverse Vol. 42, No. 1, 2015 OUTREACH... continued from previous page
The TwiST workshop was a great success this year thanks to the State Associations who sponsored teachers, WFPS for coordination, the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) who provided matching funds to WFPS states for sponsorships, the instructors from OIT and Clark College, and of course the teachers who participated in the workshop.
WFPS is currently preparing for the next TwiST workshop scheduled in June of 2015 in Vancouver, Washington and hopefully NALS will once again be able to sponsor two teachers. If you know any teachers who would be interested in this great educational opportunity, please send their information to Trent Keenan, Matt Gingerich or Nancy Almanzan. U
Judith Garcia & Jennifer Halstead OUTREACH — Certified Survey Technician Program
by Paul Burn, PLS NSPS Nevada Director
Another form of outreach / education that NALS is involved in is the Certified Survey Technician program administered by the NSPS. We have a state coordinator, myself, and there are proctors situated throughout the state.
The National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) sponsors a comprehensive national certification program for survey technicians, in both a field and/or office track. The Certified Survey Technician Board (CST Board), which oversees this program, Shannon Johnson Pacing recognizes the importance of technicians to the surveying and mapping profession.
This four-level certification program for surveying technicians throughout the United States indicates official recognition by NSPS that a person has demonstrated that he or she is minimally competent to perform surveying tasks at a specified technical level. Certification provides the individual with a sense of achievement, since it reflects advancement in the field of surveying. Certification also provides employers with a method of determining job assignments and advancement since certification is an indication of one›s ability to perform specific job tasks.
For more information contact Nevada CST Coordinator Paul Burn: [email protected] or contact:
• NSPS SURVEY TECH 5119 Pegasus Court, Suite Q Frederick, MD 21704 • Or see NSPS CST web site at http:\\www.nsps.us.com • Or call Trisha Milburn at Judith Garcia & David and Sandi Balling (240) 439-4615 x105 • Fax: (240) 439-4952 [email protected] U
The Nevada Traverse Vol. 42, No. 1, 2015 7 that are happening through them in Clark County. On top OUTREACH — of that, land surveying is becoming a part of the Future City Competition! Our career path is now a part of the Presentation Southern Chapter and Awards Day and we are working to get land surveying High Schools practices incorporated within the competition process itself. Along with our interaction with the Clark County School by Sean Corkill, PLS District, this summer we are looking to take part in a program being presented by a partnership of the NVSPE and UNLV. 2014 was another tough year for our local outreach program. Last year, this successful event focused upon a selected college- The decline in land surveying jobs and the uncertainty of the in- prep science/engineering/technology class and worked with state college education option had certainly made the promotion them specifically to provide engineering/land survey awareness. of the land surveying career path to high school students a We are also looking into where NALS can best fit in and be a challenge. Fortunately, local construction is on the upswing and part of the Skills USA program. land surveying jobs are starting to increase. On top of this good news, our in-state college education option has been given new As we move past our recent economic hurdles, we look forward life! These tangible successes greatly reinforce our resolve as we to continuing the promotion of our career path and getting in continue to discuss land surveying as a viable and sustainable touch with our scholastic community! We are looking forward career option to our college-bound high school students. to a great 2015!
While the year was a tough one, it wasn’t a total washout. We Volunteers are always needed to be a part of presentation were able to discuss land surveying as a career path to a few and career fair processes and to help proctor exams. If you schools in Clark County and we were able to give the Lahontan are interested in volunteering and representing NALS to your Chapter a run for their money in our statewide search for the community, please don’t hesitate to contact any representative Nevada representative for the national NSPS 2014 Trig-Star member of your chapter or a NALS representative. competition. Congratulations to them for finding the 2014 U Nevada representative!
We continue to have success with the WFPS/NALS sponsored TwiST (Teaching with Spatial Technology) Program. The program is held in Washington (state) each year and provides a workshop for interested high school teachers to utilize land Has Your Contact surveying technology and practices. Our local teachers have Information Changed? taken this knowledge and created their own field and classwork activities for their high school that focus on trigonometry and Change in your address, utilize land surveying practices! email address, or telephone? Our 2015 is looking bright! Our involvement with the Clark County School District continues to be beneficial for our career Please contact NALS with path in creating awareness of land surveying to high schools. We are again looking for interested teachers to participate in the your updated information. 2015 TwiST Program. We are updating our College and Career Fair presentations to better represent Great Basin College as You may log onto the NALS Website at: our source of in-state collegiate opportunity and of course we are www.nvlandsurveyors.org hoping that the Nevada representative for the NSPS 2015 Trig- Star competition will come from one of our local high schools! Go to: Update Contact Info. We will be proctoring five Trig-Star exams in 2015. Fill in your information and submit.
During our communications with the local schools, we have been made aware that there has been a growing emphasis to bring Help your NALS Board college-prep and career awareness to an even younger crowd. This year, we are looking to promote the land surveying career to keep you current. path to the middle school and elementary school levels. We are Thank you! making contacts with the folks at Math Counts in an effort to get NALS involved in the math competitions and programs
8 The Nevada Traverse Vol. 42, No. 1, 2015 And why does SkillsUSA matter to the members of NALS? OUTREACH — Surveying is one of the 99 occupations in which the students can compete. Jamie Gillis of the Texas Society of Professional SkillsUSA Surveyors writes: “TSPS has made SkillsUSA a top priority for the past 5 years or by Carl C.de Baca, PLS more. We currently have TSPS volunteers in numerous cities/ counties across Texas who are helping high school teachers The following is excerpted from the SkillsUSA website and to equip and prepare teams for the Land Surveying contest serves as brief introduction into a high school and junior college as well as incorporate Land Surveying into their high school program that NALS and other survey societies in the western curriculum. The Dallas/ Fort Worth metroplex has the greatest states may want to look into: level of participation but other areas of the state are growing and we have seen the State contest expand to the point where I SkillsUSA is a national organization serving teachers and believe it is the biggest contest, with around 30 participants, at high school and college students who are preparing for the Annual SkillsUSA State competition.” careers in technical, skilled and service occupations, “We have seen these efforts pay including health dividends in terms of exposure/ occupations. You might recruitment as well, with a remember SkillsUSA by number of SkillsUSA high its former name: VICA school students entering post- (the Vocational Industrial secondary surveying programs Clubs of America). in Texas” {Note: Texas has had at least 4 students who received their CST Level I while still in More than 300,000 high school.) students and advisors join SkillsUSA The Land Surveying contest annually, organized into for SkillsUSA began with more than 17,000 sections just one school, where a and 52 state and territorial teacher and mentor helped associations. More than promote the contest within 11.2 million folks have SkillsUSA, within TSPS, and been members since its really to anyone who would founding in 1965. listen. In large part due to his enthusiasm, other schools in SkillsUSA empowers its the area began to take interest members to become world- and things snowballed from class workers, leaders there.” and responsible American citizens. SkillsUSA What would we need to do if we improves the quality of Dubiski Career High School team in Grand Prairie Texas competing in the saw SkillsUSA as a viable form America’s skilled workforce Land Surveying Contest on Feb. 27th at the Waxahachie Civic Center. of youth outreach that NALS through a structured should support and assist? program of citizenship, leadership, employability, technical Many Nevada high schools already participate in competitions and professional skills training. and many more have similar organizations such as FFA where teams of students compete using technical skills they gained in In 2013, more than 16,000 teachers and school administrators the classroom. These schools must be approached to see if they served as professional SkillsUSA members and advisors. would be interested in expanding their horizons a bit. And of More than 600 business, industry and labor sponsors actively course the national and state SkillsUSA administration would support SkillsUSA at the national level through financial be of great assistance to us. NALS would have to find and aid, in-kind contributions, and involvement of their people provide school sponsors and team advisors and since few schools in SkillsUSA activities. Many more work directly with state have their own survey equipment, arrangements would need associations and local chapters. to be made for use of equipment. Later, the schools can apply for grants to get their own equipment, or generous benefactors could always donate an old level or total station, etc… To really SkillsUSA programs include local, state and national get off the ground, we would want at least one competing school competitions in which students demonstrate occupational in each of the three corners of the state and if successful, more and leadership skills. At the annual national-level schools would likely join up later, that is, as long as we can SkillsUSA Championships, nearly 6,000 students compete provide the necessary level of mentorship. in 99 occupational and leadership skill areas. Granted, it sounds like an awful lot of work for NALS and NALS SkillsUSA is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education members, but if we don’t find a way to capture some youth and and is cited as a “successful model of employer-driven youth direct them toward our profession, this generation (you and I) development training program” by the U.S. Department of will be mourning the death of our profession while we fritter away in our dotage on some golf course. -CRC Labor. U
The Nevada Traverse Vol. 42, No. 1, 2015 9 Nevada. Since reactivation, we have received 30 new requests Off And Running... from students interested in the program. Seven of these inquiries were from Nevada, five were international requests, A Status Update and the remainder were from other states. One conclusion that could be drawn from the active enrollment numbers and recent on the Great student requests is that we need to be more effective in our own state recruitment efforts. Basin College In future editions of the Nevada Traverse, I envision sharing with our readership an amalgam of student articles, maps, plats and Land Surveying updates from the newly created NSPS/NALS student chapter (Silver State Surveyors) including activities, fundraisers, Geomatics Program projects, and competition events. In my opinion, the long-term by Professor Byron Calkins success of the LSG program at Great Basin will be based on how well we prepare students to meet the demands and needs of the Great Basins’ Land Surveying/Geomatics (LSG) program was surveying profession here in Nevada. I personally look forward granted a second lease on life this past semester (Fall 2014). to collaborating with you all and designing the LSG program’s Ultimately, the overwhelming support from faculty, staff, academic curriculum to meet and exceed your professional local firms, and NALS was paramount in the administration’s objectives. decision to reactivate the State of Nevada’s lone LSG program. Great Basin’s LSG program is regionally accredited by the Sincerely, Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (the Byron Calkins same accreditation as schools like BYU, University of Oregon, LSG Program Advisor Washington State, Gonzaga, and the University of Anchorage). U Every five years a mandated comprehensive program review is executed in order to retain this accreditation. The purpose of the program review is “to assure academic quality, and to determine if need, student demand, and available resources support their continuation.” (NSHE Title 4, Chapter 14, Section 4).
Over the next few months, the LSG program will analyze NALS enrollment data, graduation data, employment demand projections, facility and equipment costs, and program costs. Historic Committee The preliminary program review report, due the beginning of April, includes the following six components as required by Search the Great Basin’s Academic Affairs Policy No: 3.40: 1) How the The Historic Committee is searching for pictures program supports the mission of Great Basin College. 2) How and narratives on past presidents and prominent the program integrates with other departments and programs at contributive members. The presidents are Great Basin College. 3) Recruitment approaches. 4) Curriculum/ known, but a list of contributive members needs competencies/learning outcomes/syllabi. 5) Needs--equipment, to be developed. This year we hope to collect instructional resources, and planning goals. 6) Strengths and an overview of recollections, contributions weaknesses of the program. and photos for both categories for future use. Respondents need not worry that two or more One of the major responsibilities with which the LSG advisory reply; information and photos received will be committee will be tasked is to assist the program in developing a compiled by the committee. strategy to address recruitment, professional outcomes, funding, Please respond to: equipment needs, and program concerns. [email protected] One area of immediate concern is limited in-state enrollment. Thank you! This past semester we had 20 students registered in the LSG program. Of the 20 students enrolled, seven students resided in
10 The Nevada Traverse Vol. 42, No. 1, 2015 Student Writing – GBC/LSG passage; thus not meeting the test of navigability requirements. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled otherwise and declared the Fox Program – SUR460 River as a navigable river of the U.S. and “notwithstanding that its navigation was defective by reason of the falls and rapids” (The Montello, 1874). This case emphasized the mode of Who Determines commerce travel and the difficulties of navigating do not define the navigability; rather it is the state of the natural channel Navigability? being useful for commerce which defines the navigability. by Kurt Luebke, GBC Senior The question of navigability is one which is determined at statehood. The Enabling Act for each state is the creation The debate of ownership to riparian beds has been tumultuous of power and land from the federal government to the state since the founding of the United States. “Much of the confusion government. It is at this point in time that navigability of a among American cases arises out of a lack of understanding stream determines federal or state ownership of the bed. In of the English Common Law” (Robillard, 1997). As the King the 1926 U.S. Supreme Court decision U.S. v. Holt State Bank, of England distributed his land amongst his nobleman, it the question of ownership to the bed of a dried up lake was was presumed the waters transferred with the lands up to put to the test. The owners of land adjacent to Mud Lake in the tidelands and those tidelands remained with the crown. Minnesota asserted their ownership of the lands within the This same system of entitlement came to the U.S. and as the Mud Lake bed which had effectively been drained around 1920. states were formed, the federal interest to the title of the beds The State of Minnesota however argued that ownership of the of navigable waterways were transferred to state interest and bed resides under state control because the lake was navigable the beds of non-navigable waterways remained with the federal at the time of statehood and ownership went from federal to government available to be patented into public and private state interest at that time. U.S. Justice Van Devanter’s opinion interest. decreed that ownership to the bed of the lake did pass to the state upon statehood in 1858, “and the navigable waters leading In 2012, the case of PPL Montana, LLC v. Montana was litigated into the same shall be common highways, and forever free, as at the state’s district court level and at the Montana Supreme well to the inhabitants of said state and to all other citizens Court level. In both instances, the court ruled in favor of the of the United States” (U.S. v. Holt State Bank, 1926). This State of Montana, awarding the state $41,000,000 in royalty case was instrumental in confirming the test of navigability is fees for the use of river beds in Montana in which power plants determined at the time of statehood. and dams were constructed. PPL Montana, LLC used various case law and legal rulings for rejecting these royalty fee claims. The question of navigability throughout the extent of a river This case ultimately ended up at the U.S. Supreme Court and is is another relevant question which arises. This question was examined later in this article. addressed by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1931 in U.S. v. Utah. In this case the U.S. Government brought suit against Utah to The discussion of riparian rights is a complex and confusing quiet title to portions of the Colorado, Grand, San Juan and Green issue that involves two different principles, which are: Rivers in which the state has asserted ownership of the river bed on the grounds of navigability and the federal government 1) Navigability as it relates to title ownership of the stream bed. asserts otherwise. U.S. Justice Hughes, in collaboration with the work and advice of Special Master Charles Warren, decreed 2) Navigability as it relates to state and federal commerce portions of the Colorado, Grand and Green Rivers to be non- regulations. navigable and ultimately under federal ownership. From the decision it is stated “The evidence sustains the master’s When it comes to title ownership of the bed of a stream, the conclusion that certain sections of the Grand, Green and navigability of the stream bed must first be determined in Colorado Rivers, despite impediments such as sandbars, floods, order to understand the riparian rights. Either the stream is driftwood, etc., are navigable” (U.S. v. Utah, 1931). navigable - in which case the state owns the bed - or it is deemed non-navigable, in which case the patentee or patentees own the In 2012, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of PPL Montana, LLC bed. This seems a simple enough principle, but the problem where it was determined the dams are located in non-navigable arises as to how navigability is determined and whether it has portions of the various river channels. However, the Supreme been determined through a judicial process. Court ultimately chastised the lower courts for not looking at navigability at the time of statehood in 1889. PPL had shown The lands which lie under navigable waters belong to the state the Madison River was not navigable in 1889 and only due to in which they reside and are under state jurisdiction, however the construction of the dam and other improvements did this they are subject to federal administration of the waters for channel become relatively navigable. The State of Montana also purposes of navigation and federal commerce (U.S. v. Holt failed to acknowledge that a 1910 federal district court case State Bank, 1926). Water navigability is a basic right under had already decreed portions of the Clark Fork River to be non- federal law and is to be determined as navigable according to navigable near the Thompson Falls, the location of one of the federal law. The question of navigability dates its roots back PPL Montana dams. to a U.S. Supreme Court case from 1874. In this case, which originated in Wisconsin, the U.S. government sued the owners The State of Montana’s argument did recognize that portions of the steamboat “Montello” to receive royalties and taxes for of the rivers contained waterfalls, limiting commercial use; plying the waters of the Fox River in Wisconsin. The owners however the state argued the waterfalls could be portaged argued the Fox River was a non-navigable river due to the which they felt still indicated navigability of the waterways. existing impassable falls and the use of man-made canals for The problem with the state’s argument, in which they did not acknowledge the case of U.S. CONTINUED ON PAGE 22 u
The Nevada Traverse Vol. 42, No. 1, 2015 11 CLSA-NALS Conference 2015 REGISTRATION FORM
Town and Country Resort and Conference Center San Diego, CA
Continuing Education – Scholarship Auction – Exhibits
Registration info at www.californiasurveyors.org or www.nvlandsurveyors.org T.: 707.578.6016 F.: 707.578.4406 E.: [email protected] 12 The Nevada Traverse Vol. 42, No. 1, 2015 Register Online at: www.CaliforniaSurveyors.org/conference.html
cal_surveyor #179.indd 30 1/14/15 7:04 PM CLSA-NALSCLSA-NALS ConferenceConference 20152015 REGISTRATIONREGISTRATION FORMFORM
______FULL NAME (LAST/FIRST/MI) FIRST NAME or NICKNAME (as you wish it to appear on your badge) Is your mailing address your: q BUSINESS q RESIDENCE
______COMPANY
______ADDRESS
______CITY STATE ZIP
Town and Country ______Resort and Conference Center PHONE FAX ______San Diego, CA EMAIL
______CLSA or NALS MEMBER # PLS #
______SPOUSE (if attending - See Spouse Registration Below)
MEMBER REGISTRATION OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES BEFORE AFTER AMOUNT AMOUNT Feb. 21 Feb. 20 Extra Mon. Lunch Ticket ____@ $46 $______PreConference Workshops $155 $205 $______PreConference Workshops: Sat. (all day) and Sun. (morning) Extra Tue. Lunch Ticket ____@ $46 $______Extra Sun. Icebreaker Ticket ____@ $46 $______Conference Only $365 $415 $______Conference Only Registration: Sun. (afternoon) thru Wed. Extra Mon. Auction/Dinner Ticket ____@ $46 $______Includes Mon. & Tues. Luncheons, IceBreaker Reception & Scholarship Auction. Does not include PreConference Workshops on Sat. (all day) or Sun. (morning). Continuing Education Certificate $25 $______
Conference & Workshops $425 $475 $______Student Assistance Donation (Suggested Donation $10) $______Full Conference Registration: Sat. thru Wed. Includes all preconference workshops and conference registration.
Conference One Day $155 $205 $______PAYMENT INFORMATION Select Day: q Sunday q Monday q Tuesday q Wednesday Total Enclosed $______NON-MEMBER REGISTRATION BEFORE AFTER AMOUNT q Check Enclosed (Checks payable to CLSA-NALS Conference) Feb. 21 Feb. 20 Charge to: q Visa q MasterCard PreConference Workshops $205 $255 $______PreConference Workshops: Sat. (all day) and Sun. (morning) ______Conference Only $415 $465 $______Cardholder Name Conference Only Registration: Sun. (afternoon) thru Wed. Includes Mon. & Tues. Luncheons, IceBreaker Reception & Scholarship Auction. ______Does not include PreConference Workshops on Sat. (all day) or Sun. (morning). Account # Exp. Date CID #
Conference & Workshops $475 $525 $______Full Conference Registration: Sat. thru Wed. Includes all preconference workshops and conference registration. Authorized Signature
Conference One Day $205 $255 $______Select Day: q Sunday q Monday q Tuesday q Wednesday Government Purchase Order Number
OTHER REGISTRATION ______Spouse Registration $180 $______Contact Person & Telephone Number Includes entrance to Exhibit Hall, Icebreaker Reception, Monday Lunch, Scholarship Auction, Tuesday Lunch Mail to: Fax to: Continuing Education – Scholarship Auction – Exhibits CLSA-NALS Conference (707) 578-4406 Full-time Student Registration $180 $______526 South E Street Questions? Must attach current student ID. Includes Conference Registration (Sun thru Wed.), Monday & Tuesday Luncheons, IceBreaker Reception & Scholarship Auction. Does not include preconference workshops. Santa Rosa,CA 95404 [email protected]
CANCELLATIONS: To receive a refund on registration fees (less a $35.00 cancellation fee), all cancellations must be received in writing no later than February 20, 2015. Substitutions welcome - additional fees may apply, contact the conference office at : (707) 578-6016 for Registration info at www.californiasurveyors.org or www.nvlandsurveyors.org more information. T.: 707.578.6016 F.: 707.578.4406 E.: [email protected] RegisterRegister OnlineOnline at:at: www.CaliforniaSurveyors.org/conference.htmlwww.CaliforniaSurveyors.org/conference.htmlThe Nevada Traverse Vol. 42, No. 1, 2015 13
cal_surveyor #179.indd 30 1/14/15 7:04 PM cal_surveyor #179.indd 31 1/14/15 7:07 PM Sustaining Members
Following is a listing of sustaining members of the Nevada Association of Land Surveyors. Please remember that these firms and businesses, through their NALS membership, are supporting the aims and objectives of our association.
Bruce L. Gandelman Spencer B. Gross, Inc. AeroTech Mapping California Surveying & Drafting Supply Andy Daniels, President 2580 Montessouri St., #104 4733 Auburn Blvd. 1010 Caughlin Crossing, Suite #3 Las Vegas, NV 89117 Sacramento, CA 95841 Reno, NV 89519 (702) 228-6277 • Fax (702) 228-6753 (916) 344-0232 www.sbgreno.com • (775) 826-4240 Timothy Wolf H&S Survey & Laser Monsen Engineering, Inc. Artisan Group of Companies 4445 S. Valley View Blvd. No. 2 5115 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89118 Las Vegas° Pioche’ McGill” Las Vegas, NV 89103 (702) 220-6505 • Toll Free: (800) 821-0672 P.O. Box 33434 (800) 432-8380 1140 Financial Blvd. #400, Reno, NV 89502 Las Vegas, NV 89133-3434 (775) 359-6671 (702) 233-3451 [email protected] www.ArtisanGroupUSA.com North American Mapping 4011 W. Cheyenne Ave., Ste. B, No. Las Vegas, NV 89032 Joseph M. Bartorelli, CP, GISP (702) 646-1732 Vertical Mapping Resources, Inc. 2175 Green Vista Dr., Suite 207, Sparks, NV 89431 885 Tahoe Boulevard Brad Riley (775) 673-6000 • Toll Free: (800) 473-0627 Incline Village, NV 89451 Nevada Transit & Laser (775) 737-4343 745 E. Greg St., #2 www.verticalmapping.com Sparks, NV 89431 (775) 356-6060 Kenney Aerial Mapping Inc. [email protected] John Cahoon 1125 Grand Ave. Mitchel E. Bartorelli Phoenix, AZ 85007 Tri-State Photogrammetry Tel 602-258-6471 1925 E. Prater Way Mike Riley [email protected] Sparks, NV 89434 Nevada Transit & Laser (775) 358-9491 5720 S. Arville, #110 Las Vegas, NV 89118 (702) 253-1789 Dave Hamlin [email protected] Nevada Department of Transportation Ben Mallen 1263 S. Stewart Street Trimble Navigation Limited Carson City, NV 89712 10355 Westmoor Drive (775) 888-7256 Westminster, CO 80021 Michael Lujan (720) 587-4576 2 M Geomatics, LLC 3470 E. Russell Rd., #208 Las Vegas, NV 89120 Surv-Kap, LLC Berntsen International, Inc. (702) 589-5803 P.O. Box 27367 P.O. Box 8670 Tucson, AZ 85726 Madison, WI 53708 [email protected] (800) 445-5320 Toll Free: (800) 356-7388 www.m2geomatics.com [email protected] SURVEY MARKING PRODUCTS • Survey MarkerS & MonuMentS • ConCrete MarkerS & Drill BitS • Survey nailS & WaSherS • refleCtive targetS & PriSMS • flagging & WitneSS PoStS
REQUEST A CATALOG FIND US ONLINE 877.686.8561 @ www.berntsen.com @ Marking the infraStruCture of the WorlD™ | WWW.BerntSen.CoM
6/5/2014 The Nevada Association of Land Surveyors (NALS)
Call us: 775.624.6257 Home www.nvlandsurveyors.org E Store The Nevada Association of Land Surveyors (NALS) was incorporated and chartered on November 2, 1973. As an Association of Professional Land Upcoming Events Surveyors, our purpose is to promote the common good and welfare of our members in their activities in the profession of Land Surveying; to promote and Nevada Traverse maintain the highest possible standards of professional ethics and practice; to promote professional uniformity and to promote public awareness and trust in Membership Professional Land Surveyors and their work.
NALS History Today, NALS membership is 200 strong and is comprised of Professional Land Surveyors, Land Surveying Interns, Associate Members, Corresponding Update Contact Info Members, Sustaining Members and Student Members. There are 3 active chapters within the State of Nevada: The Great Basin Chapter in Elko, the Scholarship Lahontan Chapter in the Reno/Sparks/Cars on City area and the Southern Nevada Chapter in the Las Vegas/Henderson area. State Board Contacts
Great Basin Chapter Many thanks are herein extended to the following financial supporters of The Nevada Traverse: Lahontan Chapter
Southern Chapter
Past Events
Bulletin Board
Conference 2015
WestFed Delegates
NSPS
Trig-Star
LS Career Video
Nevada Board of LS
Webmail
Chapter Login
http://www.nvlandsurveyors.org/index.html 1/1 Contact Editor for Business Card Professional Listings Placements Aloha! LightSquared I just got back from the annual Hawaii Land Surveyors Association conference in Honolulu. I am a member of HLSA Update and have attended this event every year for the past six. I spend all year looking forward to the next one. It’s tough duty According to a report by Reuters, a U.S. judge has dismissed making time in my schedule for this trip every year but well the majority of two lawsuits by LightSquared and equity owner worth the effort. Duh. Harbinger Capital Partners in an opinion issued Feb. 5, 2015 in Manhattan federal court. The suits accused Trimble, Garmin and Deere & Co. of misleading LightSquared about interference concerns and hastening the company’s fall into bankruptcy. The lawsuits alleged that Deere, Garmin International, Trimble Navigation Ltd, and a GPS industry group led LightSquared to believe the planned network would not pose an interference risk to the GPS spectrum. According to the plaintiffs, once LightSquared had spent upwards of $4 billion on their project to use high-powered ground transmitters to deliver broadband, the GPS industry then voiced their concerns.
View from the Hawaii Prince Hotel, Waikiki Judge Richard Berman dismissed Harbinger’s lawsuit and The HLSA puts on a first rate conference, spread over two days tossed 9 out of the 11 claims from both plaintiffs, including at the end of January. As with all such conferences it is open to all surveyors and is focused on continuing education for HLSA breach of contract and civil conspiracy. However, he did leave members. The conference is held at the Hawaii Prince Hotel in in place LightSquared’s claims for negligent misrepresentation Waikiki next to the Hilton Hawaiian village and across from the and constructive fraud. Because the judge did not dismiss Waikiki Yacht Club. On the other side of this terrific hotel is all claims, LightSquared could still be able to probe the GPS the Ala Moana beach park and the amazing and luxurious Ala companies’ books and records during discovery. Moana mall is across the street. You can pick up a Hawaiian- made shirt at Hilo Hattie’s while cruising the mall. You’ll need it because Waikiki Beach starts pretty much right at the hotel and runs for more than a mile to the southeast. As you enlightened readers surely know, LightSquared has been in bankruptcy since 2012, when the Federal Communications Commission revoked its license to build a planned wireless network over concerns it could interfere with GPS. LightSquared is going through a contentious Bankruptcy battle with its creditors, fighting over control of the company’s assets, which consist mostly of the wireless spectrum that threatens the GPS spectrum by its proximity. If you have been paying attention to the FCC and their occasional auctions of spectrum, then you know that this is a very valuable resource. However, the value of LightSquared’s spectrum remains uncertain given that it is not clear whether it could ever receive regulatory approval. We would do well to keep an eye on this process because that slice of spectrum is too valuable to simply be locked away forever.
NSPS president Pat Smith, your editor, Past CLSA president Matt Vernon Meanwhile, at their website, LightSquared’s newest press
The conference is always well attended and well organized release is dated March 10, 2014. A pause to reflect, perhaps? and these are the friendliest surveyors you’ll ever meet. If you take your PDU’s seriously, valuable educational opportunities abound. If you love good food, fantastic scenery, being warm Thanks to NSPS Director (NV) Paul Burn for catching this when it is miserable in Nevada, having a mai-tai, and meeting latest development in the ongoing saga of Lightsquared and surveyors who share your interest in the profession while the future of GPS. working in a completely different environment, then I encourage you to consider attending next year. -CRC U For more information email [email protected] U
The Nevada Traverse Vol. 42, No. 1, 2015 19 surveying classes; however, many students struggle with THE FUTURE an online format, especially for math and laboratory science classes. Students can take these classes at a local institution and then transfer them to Great Basin College, but the transfer OF SURVEYING process is inconvenient at best and not necessarily guaranteed to be accepted.
EDUCATION IN Another aspect of the proposal to Western Nevada College, involved creating a course sharing agreement between Great NEVA DA : Basin and Western to allow students to sign up for a course being taught at another location directly through their home school. The schools split the student’s tuition between the A Proposal For A teaching institution and the degree granting institution. Similar agreements have been utilized by other colleges and universities outside of Nevada and allow the colleges to bring Surveying Degree together small groups of student from each college to achieve the necessary enrollment to justify the class. An arrangement Program At Western of this type would benefit Great Basin College by drawing additional students into the surveying major classes. It would benefit Western Nevada College by boosting numbers in many Nevada College of its Construction Management classes and would offer an additional Baccalaureate degree to its students. This format by Anthony Whittington, LSI would also permit Nevada State College to develop a similar program in conjunction with its Management Degree. Students With the suspension of the Geomatics/Land Surveying at Great would tangibly benefit from this arrangement. They would be Basin College last year, there was no longer an active surveying able to attend a local college in any of the major population areas program at any Nevada college or university that meets the of the state. They would be afforded in-person access to college requirements for licensure as a professional land surveyor. services necessary for academic success (counseling, tutoring, During that time, a proposal was developed for Western veteran’s services, etc.) as well as the choice between online or Nevada College in Carson City to create a Land Surveying in person classes. Management degree which would run in parallel with their existing Construction Management program. To develop the The proposed curriculum appears below. proposed curriculum for the Land Surveying Management degree, the existing Bachelor of Technology in Construction Management degree at Western Nevada College was compared LAND SURVEYING MANAGEMENT to the Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Geomatics offered Bachelor of Applied Science at Great Basin College. The Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Land Surveying Management provides associate degree students, new students The classes for the first two years were substantially similar. and skilled workers an educational route toward a career as a Most of the general education requirements worked for either Licensed Professional Surveyor. The 120-unit program combines program. The main differences were adding an introductory knowledge in surveying methods, legal principles, and planning GIS course, an intermediate CADD course, an additional lower and project management with business and supervisory skills. level surveying course, and requiring math through at least This program allows those who have completed an associate Calculus I. These courses were already being taught at Western degree in surveying technology to progress academically and Nevada College. earn a bachelor’s degree. It also allows those already working in the land surveying field to enroll in an applicable baccalaureate For the second two years, many of the upper division management degree program necessary to obtain professional licensure. classes in place for the Construction Management degree would Students must meet with a counselor and be admitted to the be of equal benefit to Land Surveying students either as is or program. with some modification to allow a surveying emphasis on the topic. For the remainder of the upper division requirements, Salary: $45,271 – $79,907 / year (Nevada) classes from the Great Basin Curriculum were chosen to cover topics necessary to prepare students for the national surveying Career Outlook: Average growth; Employment is projected exams. Specialized topics such as Mine Surveying and Least to grow 10 percent from 2012 to 2022. Growth will result Squares Adjustment were kept as electives to allow the program from increased construction related to improving the nation’s to be customized for student interest and industry demand. infrastructure.
Great Basin College has recently announced that they are Good To Know: Surveying involves both field and indoor work. once again accepting enrollment in the online Geomatics/ When working outside, surveyors must stand for long periods Land Surveying program for the Spring 2015 semester. While and often walk long distances, sometimes in bad weather. this solves the immediate problem of not having any program available, the online only format delivered from a remotely Contact: Students must meet with a counselor and be admitted located college will likely continue to suffer from the poor into the Land Surveying Management program prior to enrolling enrollment that led to the initial suspension of the program. in upper division courses. Online classes are an acceptable way to deliver education for CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE u some topics including many of the specialized upper-division
20 The Nevada Traverse Vol. 42, No. 1, 2015 WNC Surveying Degree... continued from previous page Total Requirements: 120 Units (Credits) 261, DAN 101, HUM 101, MUS 111, MUS 121, MUS 124, MUS Business & Management Core Requirements 125, MUS 134, MUSE 101, THTR 100, THTR 105, THTR 180 12 Units (Credits) BUS 101 Introduction to Business 3 Humanities Requirement (3) ACC 201 Financial Accounting 3 Choose 3 units of the following courses: CH 201, CH 202, ENG 200, ENG 223, ENG 243, ENG 250, Choose 3 units of the following economics courses: ENG 252, ENG 261,ENG 266, ENG 267, ENG 271, ENG 275, ECON 100 Introduction to Economics 3 HIST 105, HIST 106,HIST 207, HIST 247, PHIL (except for ECON 102 Principles of Microeconomics 3 PHIL 102, PHIL 114) ECON 103 Principles of Macroeconomics 3 ECON 261 Principles of Statistics I 3 Mathematics Requirements (8) Choose 8 units of the following courses. At least one course Choose 3 units of the following management courses: must be Math 181 or higher: MGT 323 Organizational Behavior & Interpersonal Behavior 3 MATH 126 & MATH 127, MATH 128,MATH 181, MATH 182, MGT 367 Human Resource Management 3 MATH 253, MATH 283,MATH 285
Program Requirements Science Requirements (8) 62 Units (Credits) Choose 8 units of the following courses: IS 101 Introduction to Information Systems 3 CHEM 100, CHEM 121, CHEM 122, ENV 100, GEOL 100, GEOG 205 GIS Applications 3 GEOL 101, GEOL 103, PHYS 100, PHYS 151, PHYS 152, PHYS CADD 100 Introduction to Computer Aided Drafting 3 180, PHYS 180L, PHYS 181, PHYS 181L CADD 105 Intermediate Computer Aided Drafting 3 SUR 161 Elementary Surveying 4 Social Sciences Requirement (3) SUR 265 Introduction to Construction Surveying 4 Choose 3 units of the following courses: CONS 281 Construction Planning Scheduling & Control 3 ANTH 101, ANTH 201, ANTH 202, ANTH 210 ANTH 212, CH CEE 411 Construction Law 2 203, CRJ 101, CRJ 102, CRJ 220, CRJ 230, CRJ 270, GEOG 106, CEE 463 Project Scheduling 3 HIST 101, HIST 102, HIST 111, HIST 217, HIST 295, JOUR CEE 466 Construction Management 2 101, PSC 103, PSC 108, PSC 208, PSC 231, PSC 295, PSC 299, CEE 465 Construction Cost Accounting 2 PSY (EXCEPT PSY 210), SOC ( EXCEPT SOC 210) CONS 351 Advanced Project Supervision 3 CONS 451 Advanced Internship in (Surveying) 3 U.S. and Nevada Constitution Requirements (3) SUR 320 GIS for Surveyors 3 Choose 3 units of the following courses: SUR 340 Photogrammetry & Remote Sensing 3 CH 203, HIST 111, HIST 101 & HIST 217 (SATISFIES SOCIAL SUR 360 Public Land Survey System 3 SCIENCE & CONSTITUTION REQUIREMENT), SUR 365 Legal Descriptions 3 HIST 101 & HIST 102 (SATISFIES SOCIAL SCIENCE & SUR 440 Geodetic & GPS Surveying 3 CONSTITUTION REQUIREMENT), SUR 460 Advanced Boundary Analysis 3 HIST 101 & PSC 208(SATISFIES SOCIAL SCIENCE & CONSTITUTION REQUIREMENT), PSC 103 Choose 6 units of the following courses: U CADD 230 Civil Drafting I 3 CADD 231 Civil Drafting II 3 SUR 455 Mine Surveying 3 SUR 330 Intro to Least Squares Adjustments 3
General Education Requirements Electronic BLM Manual 46 Units (Credits) Capstone Courses ( 9) The Manual of CEM 456 (Surveying) Management Capstone 3 ECON 311 Professional Ethics 3 Surveying Instructions,
Choose 3 units of the following courses: 2009 MGT 469 Managing Cultural Diversity 3 MGT 462 Changing Environments 3 COM 412 Intercultural Communication 3 Currently available on the BLM website: English / Communications Requirements (9) http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/content/ Choose 9 units of the following courses: wo/en/prog/more/ BUS 107, COM 101, COM 102,COM 113,COM 213, ENG 100, cadastralsurvey/2009_edition.html ENG 101, ENG 102
Fine Arts Requirement (3) Choose 3 units of the following courses: ART 100, ART 101, ART 124, ART 160, ART 224, ART 260, ART
The Nevada Traverse Vol. 42, No. 1, 2015 21 Who Determines Navigability?... continued from page 11 Elithorp: Where Is v. Utah, was they were using the Federal Commerce Clause description of navigability to determine title to the bed. The Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act of 1899 prohibits the He Now? construction of any bridge, dam, dike or causeway over or in navigable waterways of the U.S. without congressional approval. by James Elithorp, Ph.D., PLS Navigable waters as defined under the commerce clause are allowed breaks in navigability such as dams and falls. The U.S. Greetings to my friends Supreme Court found this to be an improper use of the term in Nevada. I am proud of navigable. In his opinion, Justice Kennedy indicated “for title the online four year degree purposes, the inquiry depends only on navigation and not on program that I spent 8 1/2 interstate travel” (PPL Montana, LLC v. Montana, 2012). years developing at Great Understanding navigability pursuant to title ownership can Basin College. There were be very complex as it relates to a time period (statehood), the more challenges and obstacles federal test of navigability (very open to interpretation) and than I had anticipated. It segmentation of navigable waterways (portions of proven navigable waterways can be in fact, non-navigable). I have evolved to meet the unique chosen to focus on these aspects, but there are so many other circumstances faced by the items to be addressed in riparian rights e.g. accretion, reliction, State of Nevada in providing avulsion and erosion, GLO surveyor treatment of meanderable the education needed for bodies and many other riparian issues. The prudent surveyor tries to understand the law, gather the facts and consult other professional licensure. professional resources in riparian issues such as attorneys, geomorphologists, hydrologists, foresters, the BLM, etc. One I left Great Basin College at must be wise and informed enough to advise their client of the end of the fall 2013 semester to join the existing faculty in possible issues involved with riparian right boundary surveys. Areas that are difficult or impossible to navigate, bank the Nicholls State University Geomatics Program in Thibodaux, movement or radical flows, back channels, and well-defined Louisiana. My committment had been met, my job was done. I high-water lines are just a few of the many characteristics to be had accepted the challenge to develop the Program, not labor in noted by the judicious surveyor. The survey of land near, over the trenches as the sole full time faculty until retirement. It will or against lands with possible riparian rights is one worthy of much time, research and collaboration to help keep one out of fall to other competent and energetic leaders to figure out how to the legal justice system. place the Program on a sustainable basis with at least two full time faculty and ABET Accreditation. References PPL Montana, LLC v. Montana, 132 S.Ct. 1215, 182 L. Ed. 2d 77 (2012) My leaving gives everyone an opportunity to take a hard look at Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act of 1899. (33 U.S.C. 403; Chapter 425, March 3, 1899; 30 Stat. 1151.) the critical issue of survey education and the feasible alternatives in Nevada. I have no doubt that over the long-run the Great Robillard, Walter G. and Bouman, Lane J. 1997. Clark on Surveying and Boundaries 23:771-776. Basin College Land Surveying/Geomatics Program will continue The Montello, 87 U.S. (20 Wall.) 430 (1874) to offer critical educational services to entry-level and working surveyors. On-line course delivery is the wave of the future in United States v. Holt State Bank, 270 U.S. 49 (1926) education. You already have the Program of the future. United States v. Utah, 283 U.S. 64 (1931) U I have been blessed with the opportunity to research and teach new aspects of land surveying and am working to publish papers on my findings. I feel very fortunate to have made somany friends in the surveying profession over the years. Best wishes to all.
James Elithorp, Ph.D., PLS The Morris and Sandra Hebert Endowed Professorship in Geomatics/Surveying Nicholls State University Department of Applied Science Geomatics Program [email protected] U
22 The Nevada Traverse Vol. 42, No. 1, 2015 Region IX did a fantastic job as the course instructor. Rob What Has NALS Palmer, State Floodplain Manager with the Nevada Division of Water Resources was her back up and was indispensable Done For Me Lately? in making the logistics work. Sarah made the trip from her Oakland, California office to Reno on the first Tuesday of by Greg Phillips, PLS December for 2, back to back, 4 hour sessions, then road tripped over to Elko to repeat the course to the Great Basin Chapter on A couple of good things came in the form of some well attended Thursday. Rob was in tow providing work books and free flood continuing education seminars in 2014. In June, NALS put on a awareness information. Sarah went into great detail on the low cost 4-hour seminar in Reno on the Water Rights Permitting intricacies of the Elevation Certificate and its important role process. Our friends at the Nevada Division of Water Resources guiding development in flood prone areas. She was able to give a were able to present a 4 hour course that was given by staff very well organized presentation and was always on point while members Karl Eitenmiller, P.E., and Malcolm Wilson, P.E. They being cross examined by the surveyors as well as quite a few covered application filings, map table reviews, protests, ready for local flood plain administrators in the room. action, approval of the permit or denial of the application, proofs of completion, P.B.U.’s, abandonment, forfeiture, navigating the Looking forward to 2015 we are anticipating being able to offer state website, and online research. This course sold out with some additional education courses. Sarah from FEMA has a full house of a good mix of surveyors, engineers, public and given us the contact of one of her FEMA colleagues that has a private folks, as well as an attorney or two swirling around the presentation on preparing Letter of Map Revision Applications. back of the room. There was an extended Q & A session that The Division of Water Resources staff that gave the water rights went well past the end, which is always the sign of a great topic. seminar indicated they may be willing to bring that out again. If A big thank you to Jason King and his staff for dedicating the you have an idea in mind for a good topic or even know a person time and resources for helping make this happen. that may be willing to give a good lecture, reach out to one of your NALS officers listed in the front of this publication and let In early December the Lahontan and the Great Basin Chapters them know your opinion. were able to jointly sponsor a free FEMA Elevation Certificate U course. Sarah Owen, Natural Hazards Specialist for FEMA
The Nevada Traverse Vol. 42, No. 1, 2015 23 NALS Board of Directors Meeting Friday, January 23rd, 2015 • Diamondback Landsurveying Conference Room • Las Vegas, Nevada
MINUTES OF MEETING: breakdowns were presented. Members Present: Glen Armstrong, Trent Keenan, Carl C.de . Baca, Alan Dill, Halana Salazar, Doug Wood, Steve Deveny, 13.3 Continuing Education Nancy Almanzan (via telecom), Paul Burn, Brett Lane Chapter Presidents Guest: Dr. David James - UNLV No written report. FEMA flood certificate workshops occurred in Carson City and Call to Order: 9.02 am by Glen Armstrong Elko in December.
Installation of 2015 officers (from end-of-2014 elections): 13.4 Advanced Education President Trent Keenan Carl C.de Baca President-elect Carl C.de Baca Written report submitted. Secretary Jerry Juarez Treasurer Alan Dill 13.5 Scholarships Kevin German Plaque awarded to outgoing President Glen Armstrong No written report. No applications to consider. Review and approve the agenda Motion 15-1 to approve agenda by C.de Baca, Second by 13.6 Legislative Salazar: carried unanimously. Brett Lane Written report by chair and current legislative summary by our Officer’s Reports consultant – Ms Neena Laxalt submitted. We are watching several bills at the present time. Vigorous 11.01 President discussion around the table. Committee will be busy in 2015. Trent Keenan Written report submitted 13.7 Publications – The Nevada Traverse Carl C.de Baca 11.02 President-Elect Written report submitted. Carl C.de Baca No written report. 13.8 Conference Nancy Almanzan 11.03 Secretary No written report. (CRC proxy for) Jerry Juarez 2015 joint conference with CLSA is in Reno in March 21-25. No written report – October, 2014 minutes previously submitted Program is set. and reviewed via email Moderators needed. 2016 is still up in the air. Motion 14-15 to approve minutes made via email by C.de Baca, Second by Corkill: carried unanimously. 13.9 Ethics Trent Keenan 11.04 Treasurer No written report. Alan Dill Written report submitted. 13.10 Communications Trent Keenan 2015 budget No written report. Motion 15-2 to approve budget made by C.de Baca, Second by Wood: carried unanimously. 13.11 High School Outreach Jerry Juarez Standing committee reports: 13.11.1 Trig Star 13.1 Constitution and Bylaws Jerry Juarez Trent Keenan Written report submitted. No written report. Motion 15-3 to increase TrigStar budget to $1000$ made by C.de 13.2 Membership Baca, Second by Dill: carried unanimously. Secretary and Chapter Presidents Motion 15-4 to revise previously approved budget made by C.de Written reports submitted. Baca, Second by Dill: carried unanimously. Current numbers covering overall membership and Chapter CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE u
24 The Nevada Traverse Vol. 42, No. 1, 2015 NALS State Board of Directors Meeting continued from previous page 13.11.2 Career Fairs refreshments at PE/LS exams. Carl CdeBaca, Dan Church, & Sean Corkill Written report submitted (So. Nev) Dr. James extends invitation to E-week banquet to Additional discussion on NSPE efforts in youth outreach by Dr. sponsor a table and attend. James – invitation for NALS to participate in certain activities with middle school and high school students Dr. James brought to the meeting samples of some survey equipment that UNLV has deemed excess. 13.12 Advanced Technology The school is contemplating what to do with the
instruments. They will loan out for (and would No written report. consider donating for) educational purposes. Subject 13.13 Nominations instruments are levels, theodolites, a total station and a Chapter Presidents laser level. Tabled until Fall meeting. The date and location of the next board meeting will be at the Special Committee Reports: conference, Sunday, March 22nd – time to be determined.
14.1 Great Basin Chapter Motion 15-5: Motion to adjourn made by C.de Baca, Second by Norm Rockwell Deveny: carried unanimously. Written report submitted Meeting adjourned at 12:35 p.m. 14.2 Lahontan Chapter U Halana Salazar Written report submitted
14.3 Southern Nevada Chapter Steve Deveny Written report submitted Has Your Contact 14.4 Western Federation of Professional Surveyors Information Changed? Nancy Almanzan Written report submitted. Change in your address,
Board Election of Paul Burn as 2015 NSPS Director – email address, or telephone? unanimous vote
14.5 NSPS Please contact NALS with Paul Burn your updated information. Written report submitted. Next meeting is in Arlington, VA in conjunction with the NSPS/MAPPS national conference. You may log onto the NALS Website at: 14.10 NSPS Foundation Carl C.de Baca www.nvlandsurveyors.org Written report submitted. Go to: Update Contact Info. 14.11 CST Program Paul Burn Fill in your information and submit. No written report. Help your NALS Board Unfinished Business No discussion. to keep you current.
New Business Discussion about getting NALS logo registered at Lands End so Thank you! we could order merchandise with our logo. Dr James looking for NALS volunteer assistance with
The Nevada Traverse Vol. 42, No. 1, 2015 25 3. He has implemented the task of writing Great Basin Chapter articles for the Nevada Traverse in his Advanced Boundary Analysis class.
Report 4. The focus for the program is aligned with establishing ABET accreditation. [A motion by Norman M. Rockwell PE, PLS, WRS was made to use chapter scholarship money to aid in reimbursing expenses incurred in travel for the inspector for the ABET accreditation, PAST ACTIVITIES in the amount of $750. This was unanimously approved.] October Meeting: October 20, 2014 at the Gold Dust West Casino; Elko, NV 5. An Honor Society has been established within 10 members and guests present. the program, with a 3.0 GPA to qualify.
President’s Report: Carl C.deBaca • Great Basin College has reactivated the Land Other: Surveying/Geomatics program as of Spring 2015, with Byron • A TBC (Trimble Business Center) class is Calkins as the new program director. being organized for Elko. Send any requests for class curriculum areas and level of interest to Jolene Hoffman at • Carl and Byron attended the Lahontan Chapter [email protected]. meeting. • FYI – Norm Rockwell shared the prevailing wage for 1. Theme: Importance of mentoring to the Nevada, from the Nevada Office of Labor, to be $47.04/hr. for surveying industry. surveyors. The U.S. Department of Labor has determined that surveyors are covered under the Davis-Bacon Wage Act for work 2. Mike Harmening has been appointed as the on federal or federal funded projects. new BLM NV Chief Cadastral Surveyor.
• FEMA will put on a free workshop (FEMA flood November Meeting: November 21, 2014 at the Gold Dust elevation certificate) in Elko. West Casino; Elko, NV 7 members and guests present. 1. Date: 12/4/2014. President’s Report: Carl C.deBaca 2. Location: TBA (likely Great Basin College) • Ballots for the NALS board election went out yesterday. Be sure to vote. 3. PDH’s: Available • The 2015 budget will be formulated at the NALS • Board Meeting Minutes January, 2015 board meeting.
1. There are 176 NALS members in Nevada, • The Nevada Traverse needs advertising income to which is approaching 50% of all licensed continue to be produced. It has been suggested that it be printed surveyors in Nevada. 3 times per year vs. the present 4 times per year. There has been discussion on making it electronic only but it is felt that 2. No applications for scholarships have come in having hard copies for the advertisers is necessary, also hard over the last 6 months. copies can be given to businesses, etc. once they are read. This may help readership. 3. The 2015 CLAS/NALS Conference will be held in Reno in March, 2015. • The Great Basin Chapter of NALS, the Nevada Division of Water Resources, and the Federal Emergency Management 4. The TWIST competition is actively looking for Agency (FEMA) is sponsoring a FREE 4-hour Continuing teachers for 2015. Education Seminar on The FEMA Elevation Certificate. The seminar will be held at the Great Basin College – High Tech • Introduction of Byron Calkins, the new Land Surveying/ Center – Room 120 on Thursday, December 4, 2014. The time Geomatics Professor at Great Basin College. He reported: will be from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Seating is limited and will be assigned in the order registrations are received. Refreshments 1. There are twenty students enrolled this will be offered by the Great Basin Student Chapter, NSPS. semester. A large number of students were Donations are welcome. lost while the program was in limbo. Efforts are being made to contact those who dropped • It was moved, seconded, and voted unanimously that the program to encourage re-enrollment. the Great Basin Chapter would assist the student chapter in offering refreshments by donating up to $100 for refreshments 2. A student chapter has been implemented (based on presentation of a receipt at our next meeting). and intends to compete at the NSPS annual student competition in 2015. Currently the • Chapter officers are needed for next year. team is raising money to attend. The student competition theme this year is: Error study of 1. After much discussion Carl said he would topographic methods.
26 The Nevada Traverse Vol. 42, No. 1, 2015 assume the presidency for one more year even though he is moving up to NALS President Southern Nevada Elect.
2. Norm Rockwell agreed to fill in as President Chapter Report Elect. by Sean F. Corkill PLS, WRS, President 3. Jolene Hoffman had previously agreed to fill in as Secretary for 2015. The Southern Chapter Members ended the 2014 year with our Annual Mapping Contest and a great party! 4. William Nisbet expressed a desire to be replaced as Treasurer. Carl will check around At the October meeting, Noah Hoefs from SNWA provided an for a replacement. [Since the meeting Mark analysis of the current status of the 3rd intake pipeline at Lake Boge has agreed to fill the position for 2015.] Mead. The 3rd intake is actually a 3 mile pipe being drilled under the lake to reinforce the water supply from the lowest lake elevation possible. December Meeting: December 8, 2014 at the Gold Dust West Casino, Elko, NV. The November meeting was our Past President’s Dinner! We 7 members present. had our annual Mapping Contest and Display Gallery. Members ‘strutted their stuff’ in grand fashion! Congrats to the Mapping President’s Report: Carl C.deBaca Contest Winners Russ Wonders, Jason Higgins and Jeff Miller. • The FEMA Elevation Certificate workshop went very well. Attendees reported the presenters were fully Members had a blast at the SNALS Christmas Party! It was held prepared and gave a great presentation. Additionally, Great again at the J.W. Marriot on Friday December 12. The party was Basin College provided a very functional room for the even at a real hit thanks to the generosity of our sponsors who really went the High Tech Center. the extra mile to make our party great! Thank you Diamondback Land Surveying, Southern Wine and Spirits, AeroTech Mapping, • The 2015 National Land Surveying Student Wallace Morris Kline, Monsen Engineering and Nevada Transit and Laser! Your generosity is greatly appreciated! Competition is set to be held in Arlington, VA, April 17-21, 2015. Topographic Survey. The students will evaluate a piece On top of the great meal and the opportunity to socialize, J.J. of property with two different topo methods and use a third Wooten provided fun and festive caricatures and Joy Squad gave method as a check. members a chance to get festive and / or silly with photos. The magician Bram made an appearance and entertained the crowd 1. Byron Calkins, the new professor of Land with table tricks and a stage presentation for the group! Surveying/Geomatics as Great Basin College, is working on putting together the first team Our 2015 SNALS Board was sworn in by the newest member of to represent the College. the Nevada State Board of Professional Engineers and Surveyors, Mr. Michael Kidd 2. Since the program is largely on-line, the students would be traveling to the competition Met with Arizona Charlie’s to finalize the dates for the SNALS from different locations throughout the nation general membership meetings for the 2015. The dates that were making the logistics difficult but possible. submitted are: • January 22 3. Fundraising contributions and ideas are • February 19 welcome to assist the team with their travel • May 21 and lodging expenses. • July 16 • September 17 • October 22 • November 19 • Officers elected for NALS Great Basin Chapter 2015. Met with Blaine Benedict, Executive Director for the Red Rock Moved, seconded, and unanimously approved to vote Canyon Interpretive Association and the Southern Nevada the following in by acclamation: Conservancy. They are responsible for putting together 20 educational demonstration programs for the new Visitor Gateway 1. President – Carl C.deBaca in Kyle Canyon. They are asking if SNALS would be interested in putting together a land survey interactive demonstration at 2. President Elect – Norman Rockwell the Visitor Gateway. They have offered their picnic facilities and maybe some food at no cost for our help. We would need to 3. Treasurer – Mark Boge come up with several possible activities, such as establishing a mountain elevation remotely or a plane table mapping interactive 4. Secretary – Jolene Hoffman demonstration. They would like to use survey techniques used in the original land surveys conducted by the U.S.G.S and the General Land Office. ERRATA: If you are in the Las Vegas area, please join us at a chapter meeting As always, all NALS members and guests are cordially invited or at one any of our upcoming events! Our chapter meetings are to attend Great Basin Chapter meetings. held on the third Thursday of each month throughout the year. U In all, we are having a great year full of fun and great learning opportunities! U
The Nevada Traverse Vol. 42, No. 1, 2015 27 PLANNED ACTIVITY Lahontan Membership Meetings o February 11th – Siena Hotel & Casino (Speaker TBD) Chapter Report o March - No meeting due to NALS Conference th o April 8 – Venue & Speaker TBD by Halana Salazar, PLS, President Continuing Education o The LH chapter will be putting together PAST ACTIVITY two seminars this year. One in late spring o Membership meetings and one in the fall. We are hoping to cover . November 12 – Siena Hotel & Casino legal descriptions & describing monuments, • Ben Hoffman from NDOT boundary and possibly an ALTA class. gave a presentation and live walk through of the Membership Department’s updated o We are still trying to increase membership. survey monument Location This will be a focus for this year. Information System (Lois). This was very well received Summer Picnic & Potluck with 30 in attendance. o Date TBD. We are looking at having it at • Bowers Mansion in Washoe Valley this year. o Christmas Party . Our Christmas party was held a Golf Tournament little later than usual this year, Jason Caster and Kevin German are th, o on December 17 which probably tournament co-chairman. No details or dates accounted for the small turn out. as of yet. Never the less fun was had by all with the White Elephant gift exchange. Conference Also the Lahontan Chapter donated o CLSA and NALS will co-host the conference $1000 plus $415 collected at the party this year March 21-25 at the Silver Legacy to the Food Bank of Northern Nevada Hotel & Casino. to give back to our community. U
Our Commitment to Quality and Service Will Always be Our #1 Goal
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY DIGITAL PHOTOGRAMMETRY DIGITAL ORTHOPHOTOGRAPHY GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS
2175 Green Vista Dr. 4011 W. Cheyenne Ave. 88 Inverness Circle East Suite 207 Suite B Suite B103 Sparks, Nevada 89431 No. Las Vegas, Nevada 89032 Englewood, CO 80112 Tel: 775-673-6000 Tel: 702-646-1732 Tel: 303-792-5510 Fax: 775-673-6010 Fax: 702-646-2050 Fax: 303-792-5512
28 The Nevada Traverse Vol. 42, No. 1, 2015 *Legal Alert* Album Review
by Jason E. Caster, PLS
Shellac Dude Incredible Touch and Go; 2014
I must confess. I had never heard of Chicago based trio Shellac until about a month ago. I was advised by the fine Editor of this very magazine that I should check it out not only for the pure ass-kicking nuclear brain damage of the music, but also the
US Supreme Court case no. 13-534
The North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners vs the Federal Trade Commission
While this may seem trivial to you the reader, I encourage you to engage your curiosity and read on:
This case is interesting to surveyors on two levels. The first being the origin of the case wherein the NCBDE tried to use its authority to stop non-dentists from offering teeth-whitening services in places like spas and tanning salons. (This has an obvious parallel with non-surveyors using survey equipment to perform what we consider survey services) The board was fact that the album features no less than three songs related to taken to court for interfering with free trade. The argument was our beloved profession. I had heard of Shellac’s Lead Guitarist/ that teeth-whitening is a mature technology that can be safely Singer Steve Albini; having just recently watched the fantastic offered to the public by non-dentists and attempts to restrict this service to dentists are actually efforts to restrict free trade, Rockumentary ‘Sonic Highways’ on HBO, in which Albini was a violation of anti-trust laws. The board lost the case and that featured as one of the many producers employed by the Foo outcome was upheld on appeal by the Fourth Circuit Court of Fighters in the making of their latest album (of the same name). Appeals. Albini struck me as a detail-oriented, nerdy ‘tough guy’, complete with the dirty overalls, short banker hairdo, and tortoise shell The Appellate court ruled that the NCBDE (an obvious parallel eyeglasses right out of 1991 (coincidentally the year that he to our own BPELS) was indeed illegally restricting free trade. produced Nirvana’s final albumIn Utero). Come to find out, Mr. The case before the Supreme Court is centered on this. Obviously Albini is quite a musician himself. He, along with bandmates a ruling in favor of the FTC could have drastic consequences for Bob Weston (Bass/Vocals) and Todd Trainer (Drums/Vocals), our own board and therefore the regulation of our profession. released Dude Incredible back in September, their 5th album NCEES (among others) filed an amicus brief for the petitioner (and first since 2007’sExcellent Italian Greyhound). Making my (NCBDE), with Pacific Legal Foundation and the Cato Institute debut as a music critic with this effort (a fact that I’m not at all (among others) filing an amicus brief for the respondent (FTC). proud of, but curiously quite proud of), a more interesting album While our state board exists to protect the public from us, it also could not have been picked (Thanks Carl!). serves to protect the profession to a large degree. Weakening that protection would be bad for all of us. Starting with the crunchy riffing and eclectic-bordering-on- Bizarro-World lyrics of the Title Track, this album is a flat-out The Traverse will be keeping an eye on this case. throat punch of aggression and quirk, relentless in its Prog- U CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE u
The Nevada Traverse Vol. 42, No. 1, 2015 29 Album Review... continued from previous page
Punk groove throughout all 9 tracks. These guys are clearly Right on. skilled players, and their intelligent (and sometimes hilarious) lyrics sound like there was some serious brainstorming going on In a world where the surveying profession is more or less invisible in the crafting of these songs. Most of the album sounds to me in the mainstream media, it’s more than a little gratifying to like a cross between Primus and Anvil, with a little Sex Pistols get some props from a clearly intelligent ‘sidestream’ rock band. sprinkled in for flavor (always a good thing!). Standout tracks Who needs the Thalweg-dwellers anyways? for me include the syncopated mayhem of title track Dude In summary, if you like to rock as much as you like to survey….. Incredible, the bass heavy Compliant, the creepy-riffy Riding give this album a spin. I’ll be diving into Shellac’s back catalog Bikes, and the straight-off-Pork Soda-like All the Surveyors. now after listening to Dude Incredible. My first exposure to this When asked by a Canadian Rock Magazine about the Surveyor band makes me want to ‘resolve their boundaries’ so to speak theme running throughout the album, Albini responded: “We ;)... first got into a surveyor kick when, I can’t remember if it was Bob or me, we noticed that quite a few of the founding fathers of our Track Listing: country, the United States of America — your neighbour to the 1. Dude Incredible South — were in fact, surveyors. Meaning that they took a chain 2. Compliant and a pole and paced off the physical dimensions of our new 3. You Came In Me country. They physically measured the place they were living in 4. Riding Bikes and that was part of their definition of where they were living. 5. All the Surveyors How much more could the borders of that place mean to you and 6. The People’s Microphone (Instrumental) its identity as a nation than that you had physically measured 7. Gary it?” [Excerpted from interview of Steve Albini by Vish Khanna 8. Mayor/Surveyor (Instrumental) in the Sept. 4, 2014 edition of on-line magazine Exclaim.ca – ed. 9. Surveyor Note] U
30 The Nevada Traverse Vol. 42, No. 1, 2015 Nevada Association of Land Surveyors P.O. Box 20522 • Reno, NV 89515 Ph: 775.624.6257 • www.nvlandsurveyors.org APPLY NOW ONLINE 2015(Effective October 2014) APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
Name:
Firm/Employer: Business Phone:
Mailing Address: Fax:
City: State: Zip: Home Phone:
Mailing Address is: o Business o Residence Email:
Other Professional Registrations: PLS Number (if applicable):
STATE ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP: Add your Initiation Fee amount to Annual Total the Annual Dues amount and enter the sum in the TOTAL AMOUNT column. Dues Amount
o REGULAR MEMBER: Any person holding registration as a Professional Land Surveyor in $ $ the State of Nevada, residing in Nevada. (Includes NSPS membership.) 115.00 ______
o REGULAR MEMBER, NON RESIDENT: Any person holding registration as a Professional $ $ Land Surveyor in the State of Nevada and not residing in Nevada.* 115.00 ______o L.S.I. MEMBER: Any person holding a certificate as a Land Surveyor Intern in the State $ $______of Nevada 60.00 o ASSOCIATE MEMBER: Any person who, in their profession, relies upon the fundamen- $ $______tals of land surveying and is sponsored by a Regular Member of the Association.** 60.00 o CORRESPONDING MEMBER: Any person holding registration as a professional land $ surveyor in another state, and who desires to receive correspondence from the Association, $60.00 ______including The Nevada Traverse. o STUDENT MEMBER: Any person who is a student in a college or university and is $ actively pursuing a survey-related education, and is sponsored by a Regular Member of $25.00 ______the Association.** o SUSTAINING MEMBER: Any individual, company, or firm who by their interest in the land $ $______surveying profession is desirous of supporting the purposes and objectives of the Association. 195.00 o ADD REINSTATEMENT FEE (only if applicable) $10.00 $______CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP: Chapter membership is encouraged, but not mandatory. To be a chapter member, you must also be a State Association member. Find you chapter dues below by selecting the amount shown to the right of your Membership Grade in the State Association.
o LAHONTAN CHAPTER: Northwestern Nevada (Reno/Carson) Regular Members $35.00 (no charge for Student Members) Associate and L.S.I Members $15.00
o GREAT BASIN CHAPTER: Northeastern Nevada (Elko) Regular Members $30.00 (no charge for Student Members) Associate and L.S.I Members $20.00
o SOUTHERN NEVADA CHAPTER: Regular Members $35.00 (no charge for Student Members) Associate and L.S.I Members $20.00
* This does not include membership and dues in TOTAL AMOUNT TO BE REMITTED: the National Society of Professional Surveyors.
**Associate and Student Member Applicants must be sponsored by a Regular Member of the Association. Name of Sponsoring Member:______
Applicant’s Signature: Date: NALS ORDER FORM
Qty NALS MEMBERSHIP ITEMS (Items for Sale to NALS Members Only) Price TOTAL
NALS Logo Lapel Pin $5.00
NALS Logo Polo Shirt - Royal Blue, Dri - Fit with logo at left chest $25.00/$35.00
Please indicate size - S M L XL XXL XXXL XXXXL Subtotal NALS Logo Polo Shirt, sizes S – XL at $25 ea., Sizes XXL – XXXXL at $30 ea. Please Note: Shipping Charge is $3.00 per item Total Shipping Chrg TOTAL PAYMENT - by check or money order only Check Money Order Make Checks/Money Orders Payable to: Nevada Association of Land Surveyors Mail Order Form Along With Your Payment to : The Nevada Association of Land Surveyors P.O. Box 20522, Reno, NV 89515
Name:______
Mailing Address:______
City:______State:______Zip:______Questions? Call the NALS Office at: (775) 624-6257
ADVERTISER INDEX for this Issue Advertiser Page No. Aerotech Mapping ...... Inside Rear Cover Berntsen International ...... 15 California Surveying & Drafting ...... Outside Back Cover H&S Positioning Nevada ...... 15 Monsen Engineering Supply ...... Inside Front Cover, 16 North American Mapping ...... 28 Surv-Kap ...... 30
ADVERTISER HOT LINKS To receive FREE information about products and services from advertisers featured in this issue of The Nevada Traverse, you may log onto the NALS Web Page at www.nv-landsurveyors. org, click on Nevada Traverse, and you will find a hot link to the web sites of all advertisers in this issue. Using these links, you can go directly to the advertiser(s) of your choice for inqui- ries, to request catalogs, training schedules and information, or placing orders.
32 The Nevada Traverse Vol. 42, No. 1, 2015
The Nevada Traverse
The Nevada Association of Land Surveyors Editor: Carl C.de Baca, PLS. NALS Central Office P.O. Box 20522 Reno, NV 89515
NT ad SP80 RTK 10.14.qxp_Layout 3 10/20/14 9:41 AM Page 1
used new SP80 RTK & Network System
The SP80 uses a unique, all signal tracking and processing Z-Blade technology to provide the most reliable measurements and the highest possible accuracies. It also offers the bestCSDS communications is offering a $2,500 and trade-in connectivity allowance Exclusive CSDS per receiver, for a variety of manufacturer’s capabilities available today includingGPS/GNSS SMS receivers, and email with alerts the purchase and anti-theft of a protection.Trade-in The ergonomic Offer designSpectra and Precision unlimited SP80 operating GNSS Receiver time make Kit. the SP80 an extremely versatile and complete solution. (A Trimble Owned Company)
Key Features & User Benefits 0% Leasing • Uses industry-standard TDS Survey Pro software Only $860.75 • Future-proof GNSS technology per mo. for 24 month. • Next-generation 240 channel 6G ASIC • Z-Blade GNSS-centric capability • Tracks all 6 GNSS systems: GPS, GLONASS, System to include 2 each: BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS and SBAS 94334-50 SP80 GNSS Single Receiver Kit with UHF Extended communication capabilities 430-470 MHz 2W TRx • Built-in 3.5G cellular modem, Wi-Fi, BT System to include 1 each: • SMS & email alarms • Anti-theft protection 89937-10 *OAC. Does not • Internal UHF TRx 2W radio Fiberglass Range Pole 2m include sales tax for SP80 with UHF Module or freight. Longer Rugged & waterproof design term leases available RG3-G31-001 at reduced rates. • Withstands 2m drops SPN DC - Ranger 3L, ABC, Limited to supplies Survey Pro GNSS on hand. Must • Compliant with IP67 purchase by 12/31/14. • Hot-swap batteries See store for details. • Inside-the-rod mounted UHF antenna • Standard 2-year warranty • Complete system in a hard transport case
Not Sure? Try it at No-Charge! To try the SP80 on your next project, contact:
Mike Woodel • [email protected] • 916.847.8351 www.csdsinc.com